6 planets align on August 28: Can we observe it in Vietnam?

Image credit: Art, Inc.

Today (August 28th), six planets—Mercury, Mars, Jupiter, Uranus, Neptune, and Saturn—will align in a straight line and illuminate the sky where it is currently nighttime.

Saturn will be the first planet to appear in the sky on August 28th. Next, Neptune will appear almost right next to it in the constellation Pisces.

Next, Saturn and Neptune will rise above the horizon, moving southward. Uranus will also appear above the horizon, near the Pleiades cluster in the constellation Taurus.

At midnight (US time), Jupiter will join the "parade" of planets. Its position is in the constellation Taurus, and it will be clearly visible to the naked eye. Mars will then appear nearby.

Around 1 AM, the Moon will appear above the horizon. However, it will only be visible as a narrow crescent. Finally, Mercury will appear at dusk.

Experts say that this time will be difficult to observe, as Saturn and Neptune are already tilted toward the western horizon. You will also need a telescope, as most planets are not visible to the naked eye.

There is currently no information indicating that this phenomenon can be observed in Vietnam, as it occurs during evening hours in the United States.

The parade of 6 planets on August 28 (Image: phys.org).

According to Time magazine, the name "Six Planets in a Straight Line" may be misleading, as the planets are not actually aligned in a straight line. Instead, an optical illusion is what creates this phenomenon.

Experts liken the moment to randomly placing six different people in six different locations in a field, then positioning yourself so that you can capture them all in your camera lens at the same time.

The alignment of three or four planets happens fairly often. But if five or more planets are involved, it is extremely rare.

According to Universe , the next time a six-planet alignment will occur will be on January 18, 2025. This event will include Mars, Jupiter, Uranus, Neptune, Saturn, and Venus.

Even more remarkably, a particularly rare event will occur when all the planets in the Solar System, including Earth, will be on the same side of the Sun. This event will take place on November 7, 2176.

Source: https://dantri.com.vn/khoa-hoc-cong-nghe/6-hanh-tinh-xep-thang-hang-ngay-288-o-viet-nam-co-the-quan-sat-20240828093359404.htm